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The Comet Cupboard is a UT Dallas food pantry initiative dedicated to helping students in need. Its primary mission is to provide necessary food and personal care items to members of the UT Dallas community, but its impact reaches much further. The Comet Cupboard acts as a service learning component of the undergraduate academic experience and strives to cultivate a campus culture where the community is valued above individualism. In addition to providing essential meal and personal items, the Cupboard offers a friendly environment among users and volunteers. It is open 5 days a week and operated by student volunteers. 
Food pantries on college campuses are a growing trend. While the expense to pursue higher education increases, many college students need extra support to remain food secure. Recent studies show a decrease in the number of “traditional” college students who receive support from family. The “non-traditional” college student, who supports a family and works full-time, is becoming the norm. There is also the misconception that students who can afford college tuition are able to afford food. However, many students exhaust their funds on tuition, books, rent and gas, leaving very little for food, and almost no ability to make healthy dietary choices. “Food insecure students had lower GPAs; compared to food-secure students, they were significantly less likely to fall into the 3.5-4.0 GPA category and more likely to fall into the 2.0-2.49 category,” (Maroto, Snelling, & Linck 2014).
The Comet Cupboard is an essential asset to the UT Dallas community. For 1,100 users visiting the Comet Cupboard over 5,000 times during the 2013-14 academic year, user analysis data recognized an average GPA increase of up to 1.4 points in students who continued to use the Cupboard. Campus awareness of this vital service is increasing, resulting in an exponential rise in usage, and the need for food to distribute is greater than it’s ever been. In the Fall 2015 semester alone, the Cupboard distributed 9,841 items during 4,691 user visits.
The Comet Cupboard also provides a tremendous opportunity for UT Dallas students to experience the fulfillment of helping others and contribute to the culture of service. It is our belief that the presence of an on-campus service engagement opportunity will result in the development of more well-rounded students.
The Comet Cupboard aims to raise $10,000 to ensure a healthy supply of food items for our summer session, to provide a greater food item limit and to expand our personal care item section.
Please donate today to help a student in need and share this campaign with your friends, colleagues, and family members.
https://impact.utdallas.edu/hunger-free-utd
Your donation will feed one hungry student one meal per day for one week. A donor at this level will receive a shout out on our Comet Cupboard Facebook page.
Your donation will feed two hungry students one meal per day and provide personal care items for one week. Donors at this level will receive a personal thank-you card.
Your donation will feed one hungry student one meal per day and provide personal care items for one month. Donors at this level will receive recognition on the Comet Cupboard Donor Wall.
Your donation will feed one hungry student one meal per day for one semester. Donors at this level will receive an invitation to our donor banquet and recognition on the Comet Cupboard Donor Wall.
Your donation will feed two hungry students one meal per day and provide them with personal care items for one semester. Donors at this level will receive an invitation to our donor banquet, recognition on the Comet Cupboard Donor Wall, and a personal tour of the Comet Cupboard.
Your gift will feed two hungry students one meal per day and provide personal care items for two semesters. Donors will be invited to a donor banquet, recognized on the donor wall, given a personal tour of the cupboard, and take a picture with the Dean.